There are conceptual differences in the way that the housing and financial and insurance services groups are treated in the ALCI and CPI. See the Explanatory Notes for further detail.

Employee households

The index for employee households increased 1.0% for the September quarter 2009 mainly due to increases in electricity, automotive fuel, water and sewerage, insurance and property rates and charges. The major offsetting decreases were provided by vegetables, fruit, pharmaceuticals and audio visual and computing equipment.

The ALCI for employee households and the CPI showed the same increase (+1.0%) for the September quarter 2009.

The index for employee households decreased 1.0% for the year to September quarter 2009 mainly due to decreases in interest charges, automotive fuel, overseas holiday travel and accommodation and audio visual and computing equipment. The major offsetting increases were provided by rents, insurance, electricity, hospital and medical services and take away and fast foods.

The ALCI for employee households showed a decrease compared to an increase in the CPI (+1.3%) for the year to September quarter 2009. Employee households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on financial services and housing than the wider CPI population group (which comprises total metropolitan households). The Mortgage interest charges component of financial services for employee households recorded a significant decrease for the year to September quarter 2009, this item is not included in the CPI.

Age pensioner households

The index for age pensioner households increased by 1.1% for the September quarter 2009 mainly due to increases in electricity, automotive fuel, water and sewerage, property rates and charges and insurance. The major offsetting increases were provided by pharmaceuticals, vegetables, and fruit.

The ALCI for age pensioner households showed a slightly larger increase than the CPI (+1.0%) for the September quarter 2009.

The index for age pensioner households increased by 2.4% for the year to September quarter 2009 mainly due to increases in electricity, insurance, rents, hospital and medical services, house repairs and maintenance and water and sewerage. The major offsets were provided by automotive fuel and interest charges.

The ALCI for age pensioner households showed a larger increase than the CPI (+1.3%) for the year to September quarter 2009. Compared to the wider CPI population group, age pensioner households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on electricity, house repairs and maintenance, property rates and charges and health services - all of which recorded large annual increases.

Other government transfer recipient households

The index for other government transfer recipient households increased by 1.0% for the September quarter 2009 mainly due to increases in electricity, automotive fuel, rents, water and sewerage, insurance and property rates and charges.

The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households and the CPI showed the same increase (+1.0%) for the September quarter 2009.

The index for other government transfer recipient households increased by 1.6% for the year to September quarter 2009 mainly due to increases in rents, electricity, insurance and tobacco. The major offsets were provided by interest charges and automotive fuel.

The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households showed a slightly larger increase than the CPI (+1.3%) for the year to September quarter 2009. Compared to the wider CPI population group, other government transfer recipient households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on rents, electricity, water and sewerage, tobacco and alcohol - all of which recorded large increases for the year to September quarter 2009.

Self-funded retiree households

The index for self-funded retiree households increased by 1.1% for the September quarter 2009 due to increases in electricity, automotive fuel, water and sewerage, property rates and charges and insurance. The major offsetting increases were provided by vegetables, fruit and pharmaceuticals.

The ALCI for self-funded retiree households showed a slightly larger increase than the CPI (+1.0%) for the September quarter 2009.

The index for self-funded retiree households increased by 1.6% for the year to September quarter 2009 due to increases in electricity, hospital and medical services, insurance, house repairs and maintenance and water and sewerage. The major offsets were provided by automotive fuel, interest charges, overseas holiday travel and accommodation and domestic holiday travel and accommodation.

The ALCI for self-funded retiree households showed a slightly higher increase for the year to September quarter 2009 than the CPI (+1.3%). Self-funded retiree households have a relatively lower proportion of expenditure on financial services, which had a large decrease for the year to September quarter 2009. Self-funded retiree households also have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on utilities, health services and insurance all of which recorded large increases for the year to September quarter 2009.

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